Seminoma of the testis: results of treatment and patterns of failure after radiation therapy

Abstract

Four hundred and forty-four patients with the histological diagnosis of pure seminoma were treated at The Princess Margaret Hospital between 1958 and 1976. Using the Walter Reed Hospital staging classification, 338 patients (76.1%) were Stage I, 86 (19.4%) were Stage II, and 20 (4.7%) were Stage III. The 5 year actuarial survival rate (5 yr Sa) for all stages was 87%, and for Stages I, II and III: 94%, 74% and 32% respectively. In Stage II the 5-year Sa was significantly worse when palpable abdominal disease was present (62%, vs 87% when it was absent, p less than .02). Prophylactic mediastinal irradiation was not used for patients with Stage II disease. None of 40 Stage II patients without palpable abdominal disease recurred in the non-irradiated mediastinum. Ten of 46 Stage II patients with palpable abdominal disease recurred in the mediastinum; 7 of the 10 were cured with mediastinal irradiation at the time of relapse. Prophylactic mediastinal irradiation appears unnecessary in Stage II patients. The Stage III category includes a subgroup of patients who were curable with radiation therapy:L 5/6 with supradiaphragmatic nodal disease without palpable abdominal or visceral disease were cured. Exploration of new treatment methods appears indicated for the salvage of patients recurring in sites other than the mediastinum or supraclavicular fossa and for patients presenting with visceral disease.